Will you be a 'socialist' on the day that 'earning' your health insurance is not enough?

[zqt3344 21]

Just curious, how do you propose that we pay for this new fangled health insurance that the commander in chief change agent suggests?

Eroding health coverage

A NEW AARP SURVEY of 407 employers in Washington found ominous signs that workers may have to contribute more to keep their health-insurance coverage. Among the findings:

Cost sharing: Nearly half of the companies said they now pay 100 percent of the insurance premiums. An additional 26 percent pick up at least three-quarters of the costs, and 12 percent cover at least 51 percent of the premiums.

Coping plan: If current cost trends continue, 29 percent of the employers said, it's extremely or very likely they will raise workers' share of premiums in the next three years. Twenty-five percent said they will increase deductibles.

Terminating coverage: If health-care costs were to rise 10 percent above current levels, 14 percent of firms said they would drop health coverage. If costs rose 15 percent higher, 27 percent would do so. If costs rose 25 percent, four in 10 employers said they would stop providing coverage.

Source: AARP Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/heal...surance23m.html

[luckytxn 2,264]

Just curious, how do you propose that we pay for this new fangled health insurance that the commander in chief change agent suggests?

Eroding health coverage

A NEW AARP SURVEY of 407 employers in Washington found ominous signs that workers may have to contribute more to keep their health-insurance coverage. Among the findings:

Cost sharing: Nearly half of the companies said they now pay 100 percent of the insurance premiums. An additional 26 percent pick up at least three-quarters of the costs, and 12 percent cover at least 51 percent of the premiums.

Coping plan: If current cost trends continue, 29 percent of the employers said, it's extremely or very likely they will raise workers' share of premiums in the next three years. Twenty-five percent said they will increase deductibles.

Terminating coverage: If health-care costs were to rise 10 percent above current levels, 14 percent of firms said they would drop health coverage. If costs rose 15 percent higher, 27 percent would do so. If costs rose 25 percent, four in 10 employers said they would stop providing coverage.

Source: AARP Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/heal...surance23m.html

Taxes and only the rich will pay the taxes leaving the middle class unscathed. And since there is a huge upside down pyramid and the baby boomers are retiring and the most medical expenses are incurred during the last 6 months of people lives and we have many going that way for the next 10-15 years then the huge destructive costs will mean the rich will pay even more taxes to take care of them. Eventually we can just tax them 100% but at least us middle class will have 'free' health care so who cares about the rich.

The best part is in a certain amount of time the rich will have nothing and then we can confiscate their land and redistribute it to the poor peasants and then we can live kingly and live happily ever after.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Ironically the top tier in the US haven't had it this good since the early 80's. Can you imagine paying over 90% to the government! (1940s/50s)

Edited August 20, 2009 by lancer1655

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Ironically the top tier in the US haven't had it this good since the early 80's. Can you imagine paying over 90% to the government! (1940s/50s)

Selfish bastards! It's about time they start paying their fair share. I support a 90% tax on lawyers, doctors, dentists, and insurance executives, even higher on politicians.

ETA: And a 10% surcharge for each of those 10.000 post big hearts as well.

Edited August 20, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think the peak was something like 94-95%. Of course we were at war then.

[rebeccajo 14]

Just curious, how do you propose that we pay for this new fangled health insurance that the commander in chief change agent suggests?

Eroding health coverage

A NEW AARP SURVEY of 407 employers in Washington found ominous signs that workers may have to contribute more to keep their health-insurance coverage. Among the findings:

Cost sharing: Nearly half of the companies said they now pay 100 percent of the insurance premiums. An additional 26 percent pick up at least three-quarters of the costs, and 12 percent cover at least 51 percent of the premiums.

Coping plan: If current cost trends continue, 29 percent of the employers said, it's extremely or very likely they will raise workers' share of premiums in the next three years. Twenty-five percent said they will increase deductibles.

Terminating coverage: If health-care costs were to rise 10 percent above current levels, 14 percent of firms said they would drop health coverage. If costs rose 15 percent higher, 27 percent would do so. If costs rose 25 percent, four in 10 employers said they would stop providing coverage.

Source: AARP Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/heal...surance23m.html

Taxes and only the rich will pay the taxes leaving the middle class unscathed. And since there is a huge upside down pyramid and the baby boomers are retiring and the most medical expenses are incurred during the last 6 months of people lives and we have many going that way for the next 10-15 years then the huge destructive costs will mean the rich will pay even more taxes to take care of them. Eventually we can just tax them 100% but at least us middle class will have 'free' health care so who cares about the rich.

The best part is in a certain amount of time the rich will have nothing and then we can confiscate their land and redistribute it to the poor peasants and then we can live kingly and live happily ever after.

What will you call yourself on the day your employer ends your health cover?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Funky how the nay-sayers push this idea of "free" health care that no rational person is talking about or envisioning, let alone proposing. It's really great how all they have any argument against are the very straw men that only they create.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Social security is a ridiculous ponzi scheme, and you know it.

Besides, keeping social security would mean that we will continue to be deprived of the entertainment that is to be had when watching old folk dumpster diving.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

MC,six and Steve . Whats the diff between you guys and a begger on the street with a cardboard sign wantin a handout? ......................None! your just cleaner.

That's a completely nonsensical argument - doubly so coming from a guy who effectively *is* a beggar on the street. And as dirty.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

MC,six and Steve . Whats the diff between you guys and a begger on the street with a cardboard sign wantin a handout? ......................None! your just cleaner.

And you're somehow you're better? Unless you live in the wilderness, you are as much a dependent on the very government you despise as anyone else. Bleeding hypocrite.

The beggar on the street can probably receive Medicaid. MC, six and Steve (if they lost their employer provided health care) likely could not. They'd be caught in the middle. They'd be caught between the beggar and you. They would have worked and paid taxes all their lives, but at the moment they lose their coverage they become - what?What would you call them?

Freeloaders? Socialists?

I dare you to call a person who has worked all their lives, paid taxes and done their part for the Great Wheel of American Captialism anything less than what they are - a taxpayer.

I would strongly advise them to find another job. If they dont wanna do that, then he!! just become medicaid eligible. Or you could just sit around and complain about how tough things are.

Sure, they can find another job. But that could take some time, you know. In the meanwhile a medical condition could crop up.

We don't have any health insurance at the moment. It hasn't been long - less than six weeks actually. Just Saturday the husband noticed a lump on his groin area. So you have all the nightmare stuff running through your head about 'what could it be' along with 'how the hell are we going to pay for this'? Today he went to the doctor - it's probably a minor problem that can be settled with antibiotic. She gave us a 50% discount for the visit and the meds were generic so they didn't cost a fortune. So we are probably safe this time unless the gland doesn't settle down - then we are looking at a minor surgical procedure which - who knows how much 'minor' will cost.

It can happen to anybody.

And for your further edification, it's not so easy to become 'medicaid eligible'. In most states, adults have to be drawing Social Security. It ain't easy to get Social Security disability - in case you haven't heard.

The whole point of this thread was to ask a question - what will you do the day your employer stops your health coverage? There is plenty of evidence that if there is nothing done, employers could stop covering their workers altogether or else ask them to pay such a large portion of the premium that they effectively become 'disemployed'.

I have to say that I'm not a bit surprised to see MOST of the usual crowed who cry the loudest against reform have remained fairly mute in the thread. Perhaps the question is just a bit too 'personal' once they really thought about it. Namecalling and generalizing is easy, after all, as long it's about 'those other people'.

When I first moved here I had lumps in my neck (which could have been a possible lymphoma). At that time I was on the 90 day K1 visa, couldn't legally work and the wife only made about $35K a year. We had insurance, but it was far from great - luckily the savings I'd brought over with me covered the $2000 odd out of pocket cost of the biopsy.

Luckily for me it turned out to be benign, but perhaps Marc can advise me of the proper course of action I should have taken had it actually turned out to be cancerous.

[NickD 202]

This is the topic question:

Will you be a 'socialist' on the day that 'earning' your health insurance is not enough?

For the last 30 years since the deregulation of the health insurance companies, they have already taken a huge chunk out of my paycheck for health insurance for those that don't have it. Also another huge chunk for state day care centers, welfare, inner city school systems, food stamps, and prisons.

So do not hand me this load of BS about becoming a socialist, when we already have been one without choice of the last 30 years. And since I had something, like retirement and a good sized CD, it was all taken away from me because I had a couple of kids with a pre-condition. Even though I was paying for health insurance for years without hardly using it.

Something has got to be done, some of us have really been legally ripped off.

[Ban Hammer 13,248]

Ironically the top tier in the US haven't had it this good since the early 80's. Can you imagine paying over 90% to the government! (1940s/50s)

Selfish bastards! It's about time they start paying their fair share. I support a 90% tax on lawyers, doctors, dentists, and insurance executives, even higher on politicians.

ETA: And a 10% surcharge for each of those 10.000 post big hearts as well.

[NickD 202]

Ironically the top tier in the US haven't had it this good since the early 80's. Can you imagine paying over 90% to the government! (1940s/50s)

Selfish bastards! It's about time they start paying their fair share. I support a 90% tax on lawyers, doctors, dentists, and insurance executives, even higher on politicians.

ETA: And a 10% surcharge for each of those 10.000 post big hearts as well.

Since three of my kids are doctors, can't go along with that, was a major sacrifice and a huge gamble on their and my part to get through medical school and residency. For ten long years it's money out the door with plenty of hard work and study. And not so easy afterwards, can't ever get a good nights sleep, always on call, with super demands made upon them to perform miracles. No objection against malpractice attorneys nor insurance executives, kids have to fight those b@stards constantly, mostly the insurance companies.

And every office visit has to be well documented as if that particular case may result in a malpractice suit, the desires of the patient have to be documented, really a pain in the a$$ kind of job very few are suited for. They deserve every cent they earn, and I mean work hard for, but even at that, the government is taking away a good size hunk of their paychecks.

It is obvious to me, you don't know what the ** you are talking about.

[zqt3344 21]

Truth is all of us agree the USA needs to reform or change or fix healthcare and the costs as we know it, and we would all love to have a free system or government run one that contains costs and still offers level of care we desire.

But that is not what is happening, the president nor congress ever talk about what drives the costs of healthcare, because they are all trying to have it both ways and not offend those big lobbyists and donors to their special interests and campaigns. Thus right now, we are all suffering and Obama is not different than any other president, they talk it but never walk it when it gets down to brass tacks.

Sadly, too many on here are drinking the free bubble dub of Obama far too long. Does not matter if you support this guy or not, his agenda and leadership on healthcare is a farce. He never answers a question, he talks around in circles, changes stories constantly each week, has scripted audiences and staged questions lobbed at him all the time. I mean a leader comes out and clearly states here is my idea and my plan and ask me questions and I will answer them, Obama has never done this. NO instead he lets Congress craft ideas for bills to present to him and then he is in this great big rush and hurry, which we all know why, so he can do it before people wake up and question him and his popularity drops and before moderate Democrats open their eyes to his nonsense and say no, and it is all about helping him get re-elected 3 years from now the guy is always on campaign mode. Which is why is own campaign manager David Alexrod is loving all this because he is now working for health care industry making millions off this CHANGE garbage. American people woke up. Obama wants to have a scape goat - Congress - why do you think he let them come up with their own ideas for, so now if he cannot push it through he can say well I tried but they did it, it was Congress not me, you watch he will use it as CYA in next election so he can say I did what I promised but they held me back. Come on people he does not care about middle class working people at all, he cares about taxing you to death to pay for his folly that is for sure and certain. And he lies about that when he says he is not raising your taxes. Not possible, do the math. He has to get income or revenue from some place to pay for this thing, it only comes from new taxes and taxing the rich is not even going to make a dent in it nor is this mumbo jumbo he blathers on about techonology office savings putting records on line and saving money there, it is not even close to the truth or accurate. He is lying, flat out.

People the only way we are going to have affordable private health care is if the government steps in and offers clinics and hospitals and DRs offered by US government and provides public government funded option, sets price controls, then raises taxes on everyone drastically. After this health care costs will drop or level off, if you want private care you can get it if not you have government option. Simple. Oh and there will have to be a whole lot more Dr and nurses and medical staff trained and made available, right now there are not enough.

Obama is only going to hurt us all if in the present form he and the Democrats try to push through their current grossly flawed healthcare plan, I mean why bother, it is not going to be free or available to all, it is only going to raise your taxes and it is not going to reduce your current insurance premium or care costs, only suddenly insure 50 million new people that the existing private health care companies get new profit from.

Obama simply has no clue what he is doing, sure he is all about change, but he has not a clue how or what to change to fix anything. And you would think he would have spent a lot of time over past 6mths to a year visiting with or talking to all the other countries in the world that offer government healthcare finding out the pros and cons and taking a little of this or that from each or modeling his plan off the ones that actually work! BUT no he is Mr Messiah wonderful, I have never seen a more arrogant, prideful and reckless president in all my life for the USA.

Just curious, how do you propose that we pay for this new fangled health insurance that the commander in chief change agent suggests?

Eroding health coverage

A NEW AARP SURVEY of 407 employers in Washington found ominous signs that workers may have to contribute more to keep their health-insurance coverage. Among the findings:

Cost sharing: Nearly half of the companies said they now pay 100 percent of the insurance premiums. An additional 26 percent pick up at least three-quarters of the costs, and 12 percent cover at least 51 percent of the premiums.

Coping plan: If current cost trends continue, 29 percent of the employers said, it's extremely or very likely they will raise workers' share of premiums in the next three years. Twenty-five percent said they will increase deductibles.

Terminating coverage: If health-care costs were to rise 10 percent above current levels, 14 percent of firms said they would drop health coverage. If costs rose 15 percent higher, 27 percent would do so. If costs rose 25 percent, four in 10 employers said they would stop providing coverage.

Source: AARP Survey of Washington Businesses about the Future of Employee Health Care Benefits.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/heal...surance23m.html

Taxes and only the rich will pay the taxes leaving the middle class unscathed. And since there is a huge upside down pyramid and the baby boomers are retiring and the most medical expenses are incurred during the last 6 months of people lives and we have many going that way for the next 10-15 years then the huge destructive costs will mean the rich will pay even more taxes to take care of them. Eventually we can just tax them 100% but at least us middle class will have 'free' health care so who cares about the rich.

The best part is in a certain amount of time the rich will have nothing and then we can confiscate their land and redistribute it to the poor peasants and then we can live kingly and live happily ever after.

What will you call yourself on the day your employer ends your health cover?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Funky how the nay-sayers push this idea of "free" health care that no rational person is talking about or envisioning, let alone proposing. It's really great how all they have any argument against are the very straw men that only they create.

Dear Mr. Bill:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on improving healthcare. I

appreciate you taking the time to communicate your perspective with me

on this important matter.

We must reform our health care system to provide high quality and

affordable health care for everyone. At least 46 million Americans are

now uninsured. By the end of the day, 14,000 more Americans will lose

their coverage. Health care expenses for the average family of four are

projected to jump $1,800 yearly. Congress has held hearings and listened

to the recommendations of many stakeholders, including doctors,

patients, and employers and these viewpoints have been very important

in shaping a health care reform bill. I have supported various federal

initiatives, such as H.R. 676, the U.S. National Health Insurance Act,

which calls for a single payer national health insurance system. If we are

unable to create a single payer system, then we must have a robust public

plan option that can compete with private plans to bring down the cost of

health insurance and give patients the choice between a public or private

plan.

The Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy

and Commerce each reported out a slightly different version of H.R.

3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act. These versions of the

bill will be combined and brought to the House Floor for a vote. I'm

expecting that the final legislation will retain a robust public option.

You can count on me to continue to be an outspoken voice for universal

healthcare and for measures to ensure quality, accessible, affordable

health care for all.

Again, it's good to hear from you. The people of Marin and Sonoma

counties are the most important voices I listen to as I serve in Congress.

Sincerely,

Lynn Woolsey

Member of Congress

Edited August 20, 2009 by Mister_Bill